Portfolio guide
Portfolio Guide
A practical guide to section layout, paper choice, and discreet storage for paper portfolio books tracking private wealth.
How to structure a paper portfolio book
A useful ledger mirrors how you already sort statements—not how a software dashboard groups assets. Most clients start with four tabs and expand when a class grows beyond thirty active lines.
Recommended section order
- Cash and near-cash — deposits, money-market notices, FX balances
- Listed securities — equities, bonds, funds with lot dates
- Private and unlisted — placements, SAFE notes, side letters (reference only)
- Real assets — property schedules, lease summaries
- Liabilities and guarantees — loans, lines of credit, contingent items
- Annual summary — year-end totals if you update quarterly elsewhere
Tabs should be visible without opening the book flat—woven labels last longer than adhesive flags.
Column widths
Leave at least 25 mm on the outer margin for handwritten custodian reference numbers. Dual-currency books need a narrow FX column (12–15 mm) or a separate spread per currency.
Paper weight
- 90 gsm — smooth, good for fountain pens with light ink
- 100–120 gsm — reduces show-through when entries are dense
- 160 gsm — annual summary inserts or mounted statement snippets
We stock cream shades to reduce glare under desk lamps.
Cover discretion
Quarter-cloth in grey, navy, or olive reads as a reference volume on a shelf. Full leather suits volumes stored in a home safe. Limp vellum is quiet on a desk and tolerates humidity swings better than stiff boards.
Avoid glossy finishes or foil titles if the book travels outside your home.
Update cadence
Match ruling to rhythm: monthly cash books need narrower rows; quarterly equity sections can use facing spreads (positions on left, notes on right). Mark update dates in a consistent corner so gaps are obvious during review.
Storage
Store flat or spine-down on a supported shelf—never spine-up on deep shelves where gravity pulls sewing. Humidity between 45–55% is ideal for vellum and leather. Silica gel in a storage box is preferable to direct sunlight.
When to refill versus rebind
When more than 40% of pages are filled in a tab, order inserts rather than cramming entries. Rebind when the case is cracked, sewing loosens, or you consolidate several thin volumes.
Companion reference
Offline Wallet Tracker — companion reference for portfolio book layouts.
Available on the Microsoft Store
The Offline Wallet Tracker listing on Microsoft Store is a layout reference companion—not a substitute for your bound ledger. It may help compare tab ideas before your studio consultation.